Methods and systems for seismic data analysis using a tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) model

A method for seismic data analysis, comprising:

• operating one or more seismic receivers of a logging tool suite that gather seismic data from a plurality of positions in a borehole that penetrates an anisotropic formation;
• retrieving the seismic data from the seismic receivers;
• receiving Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) walkaway data;
• determining values for an asymmetric axis velocity (V0) and Thomsen parameters, epsilon (ε) and delta (δ) by minimizing a difference between a first arrival pick and a calculated first arrival time using the VSP walkaway data;
• optimizing a tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) model based on simultaneous inversion of the V0, the ε, and the δ, the simultaneous inversion of the V0, the ε, and the δ including applying a Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA) process to the values for the V0, the ε, and the δ;
• analyzing the seismic data using the TTI model;
• and
• displaying a representation of the anisotropic formation based on the analyzed seismic data.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing seismic data analysis software that, when executed, causes one or more processors to:

• produce a seismic section from Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) walkaway data;
• select a first arrival pick from the seismic section;
• calculate a first arrival time as a travel time from a seismic source to the one or more seismic receiver through a tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) model;
• determine values for an asymmetric axis velocity (V0) and Thomsen parameters, epsilon (ε) and delta (δ) by minimizing a difference between the first arrival pick and the calculated first arrival time;
• optimize the TTI model based on simultaneous inversion of the V0, the c, and the δ, the simultaneous inversion of the V0, the ε, and the δ including applying a Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA) process to the values for the V0, the ε, and the δ;
• use the TTI model to analyze seismic data from one or more seismic receivers of a logging tool suite that gather the seismic data from a plurality of positions in a borehole that penetrates an anisotropic formation;
• and
• display a representation of the anisotropic formation based on the analyzed seismic data.